Anti-Sicilian Help

Sort:
nostos
I dislike Open Sicilians as White and am wanting an “anti-Sicilian” to study. I looked into the closed, but the variations I saw had white fianchettoing his light squared Bishop and castling kingside, then pushing f4 later on.

I am not comfortable with how open this leaves the King. What are some solid ways to play an “anti-Sicilian” that castles kingside but plays on the queenside?

Thanks! :)
A-mateur

"What are some solid ways to play an “anti-Sicilian” that castles kingside but plays on the queenside?"

 

There is 2.a3, but it can't be called "solid". 

 

Usually in the Sicilian, White plays on the Kingside... especially without an open d-file. 

 

Maybe you can get some Queenside pressure with the Morra gambit (2.d4 exd4 3.c3), but I don't think the Morra gambit is easy to play, as there's no evident compensation for the pawn (at least, when you don't learn the theory).

 

Also, you might be interested in reading the following thread : https://www.chess.com/forum/view/chess-openings/suggest-a-good-weapon-against-the-sicilian-66445665

ConfusedGhoul

why don't you like the Open Sicilian? You don't like to attack the king? Then play the Alapin and focus on the center but study theory or its going to be destroyed

null_day

Enjoy!
https://openings101.org/sicilian-defence-alapin-variation/1

nostos
I don’t like Open Sicilians because every time I play one I feel like we castle on opposite sides and it’s just a race to who attacks the quickest. I don’t enjoy games like that.

The Alapin looks interesting. I will have to look into that. Thank you!!
Romans_5_8_and_8_5

You could try: 1. e4 c5 2. d4 exd4 3. Qxd4 Nc6 4. Qe3 to take your opponent out of theory. Then you just have to play a game of chess! However, it's sub-optimal compared to other setups...

FrogCDE

As a general principle, in the Sicilian, White attacks on the kingside, Black on the queenside. You shouldn't worry about the danger of pushing your pawns forward in front of your king - it's very unusual for both players to attack on the same side simultaneously. Your king will be safe because that's where your pieces will be, while at least some of the black pieces will be on the other side of the board. If you think you'd automatically be safer castling on the queenside, take a look at the Yugoslav attack in the Dragon: White's king often comes under a fierce attack there. The bottom line is, if you want to win against the Sicilian you have to be prepared to attack, and that usually means opening up your position.

technical_knockout

alapin sicilian:  1.e4 c5  2.c3

tygxc

#1

"I dislike Open Sicilians as White and am wanting an “anti-Sicilian” to study."
++ That makes sense: much theory and black usually has more experience with it.

"I looked into the closed, but the variations I saw had white fianchettoing his light squared Bishop and castling kingside, then pushing f4 later on. I am not comfortable with how open this leaves the King." ++ Your king is fine on g1, moreover Bg2 protects it. Black will not even attack your king, black will attack your queen's side with his pawns.

"What are some solid ways to play an “anti-Sicilian” that castles kingside but plays on the queenside?" ++ Closed Sicilian is solid. Look at games of Smyslov and Spassky.

TR0LLKlNG

This may help, but use at your own risk lol.

Levy Rozman’s Wing Gambit video:

https://youtu.be/LMBF4FGzDD4

nklristic

Well there are different stuff. Someone suggested 2.c3 Alapin Sicilian. It can be used against all Sicilians. Apart from it, against 2. ...Nc6 and 2. ...d6 there is move 3. Bb5 (The first one is called Rossolimo, the second one is Moscow variation or Canal Sokolsky). Against 2. ...e6 people have tried many different things that are not main line open Sicilians, such as 3.g3 or 3. b3.



nostos
Wow! Thank you everyone for the very helpful input!
I will definitely look into the Alapin, and I will look more closely at the Closed Sicilian.
Everyone’s info on how the Sicilian works for White and how the King is safer than I thought was VERY eye opening for me.
Thanks everyone!
neatgreatfire

Don't play anti-sicilians

if you do you are evil

jonnin

you can play the closed without the fianchetto. 
something like this, Bc4, is a line I like...

https://www.chess.com/games/view/16029701

 

nostos
I’ve spent some time today looking at Alapin games and Closed Sicilian games. I have a different outlook on these now, thanks to everyone’s helpful comments.

Which of these two is the easiest to play for White? The one which requires less memorized theory?
technical_knockout

neither require much.

yetanotheraoc

The Closed Sicilian is easier to play the first 6-8 opening moves on autopilot. The plus side is that if black also plays on autopilot, many blacks play as if it is an Open Sicilian, and their pieces are on the wrong squares. The minus is if black knows what they are doing and white plays too much on autopilot, white can drift into a position where black has a queenside initiative and/or white can get a position where a bad light-squared bishop on g2 becomes important. But the Closed Sicilian is very solid and the position is basically equal but with some slight imbalance of kingside vs queenside activity. Since black can play the same way against the English Opening (1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.g3 g6), this should tell you that white must be okay after 1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.g3.

The Alapin has more central conflict from the start, so it requires more alertness from both players. In the 2...Nf6 3.e5 line, white gets a space advantage that can lead to attacking chances, versus a potentially exposed pawn on e5 that might become weak. In the 2...d5 IQP lines, white is *required* to play actively to compensate for the central weakness. Either line, the plus is that white is playing with energy and if black plays routinely then black can be overrun. The minus is that if white plays routinely, or makes a mistaken activity, then the central weakness starts to predominate and white might lose without any big errors after.

Both are fine, take your pick. Probably positional players would like the Closed Sicilian more, tactical players would like the Alapin Sicilian more.

technical_knockout

spot on, friend.

nostos
Thank you!
EKAFC

You can try the Wing Gambit but I believe you will improve a lot more by playing the Open Sicilian. I know it is hard but it will help you find winning attacks